Preview: Olde Towne East Tour of Homes

Thursday

Olde Towne East, the near east side neighborhood between Downtown and Bexley, has been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows since its initial days in the 1800s as the home of Columbus royalty.

Olde Towne East, the near east side neighborhood between Downtown and Bexley, has been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows since its initial days in the 1800s as the home of Columbus royalty.

That bumpy ride is about to plateau in a state of awesomeness, according to the community's leaders.

"I'm a lifelong resident of this side of town," said Alex Macke, a Realtor and co-chair of the area's Tour of Homes, taking place this weekend. "In the past, it wasn't shining as bright as it could. It had hit rock bottom."

Crime, foreclosure and demolition have plagued the area.

"We're a strong grassroots community," Macke said, "and all of us have a strong will to survive and succeed."

Residents have discouraged alcohol sales in certain parts of the neighborhood, which Macke said lowers crime rates. And businesses like the Angry Baker, Yellow Brick Pizza, Black Creek Bistro and Carabar and art events such as CS Gallery's Hit & Run series have been bringing people east.

Hip young home buyers, especially, have been heading to the area, Macke said. A bare-bones fixer-upper sells for as little as $20,000, and on the high end sit houses for $400,000.

"It's an extremely viable option for downtown living," he said. "They find other neighborhoods are outpriced and they have limited space. Over here it's quite opposite of that."

Dana Pearch and Raymie Smith are two of those young homeowners.

"We wanted to be central but have space for our dogs," Smith said.

"I always thought this was the prettiest neighborhood," Pearch added.

The couple gave us a sneak peek of their house. Walk through it and 15 other stunning spaces on Bryden Road during the Olde Towne East Tour of Homes this weekend.